Pour these best cheap wines at your next barbecue
Cheap wine doesn’t have to mean bad wine! You can find great bottles for under $20 — Photo courtesy of Cline Family Cellars
You want to serve great wines at your cookout but don’t want to break out your best bottles. Let our experts help you find the most delicious, drinkable, and cheap wines to elevate your backyard barbecue.
Cheap wine doesn’t have to mean gas station plonk. Plenty of super affordable and delicious sippers, from bubbles to inky syrahs, complement various dishes at a barbecue. Which wines harmonize with the rich flavors of charred meat and veggies? Is orange wine a versatile companion for almost anything? Are bubbles too high-brow for a cookout? We have answers.
As the director of wine and spirits for 12 nationwide Wildfire and Big Bowl locations, Brad Wermager looks for flavors that harmonize with grilled food in unexpected but delightful ways without going overboard at the checkout lane.
Kasia Kutryba is a wine consultant and certified sommelier with Binny’s Beverage Depot, Illinois’ largest independent wine and spirits retailer with 45 locations. She picks her favorite cheap wines for their provoking profiles so your palate experiences a party with each sip despite the low cost.
Here are their picks, all hovering around or under $20.
Ferrandiere Brut Blanc de Blancs
A French sparkler doesn’t have to break the bank for your barbecue — Photo courtesy of Binny’s Beverage Depot and Harold Rail
Bubbles are a fine way to commence your cookout (or anything, really). This sparkling wine comes from Limoux, France, the oldest sparkling wine-making region — even older than Champagne, says Kutryba.
“Ferrandiere Brut Blanc de Blancs is a wonderful, affordable sparkler perfect for cocktails, mimosas, or just sipping on any occasion,” she adds. “It has a delicate, creamy mouthfeel, fresh lemon and apple notes with a touch of vanilla and toasted bread.” Made from 100% chardonnay grapes, it goes with just about anything.
J Vineyards Pinot Gris 2021
Pinot gris is a great complement to chilled or grilled seafood — Photo courtesy of Wildfire and Harold Rail
Sip the cool-climate grape of Sonoma County on a warm day, and you’ll sense straightforward, crisp, floral, and fruity flavors that Wermager says pair with Mediterranean chicken or shrimp kebabs on the grill. If you don’t want to overwhelm the delicate taste of seafood, the J Vineyards Pinot Gris 2021 is a must.
Domaine J M Reverdy Charme de Loire Sauvignon Blanc 2022
This cheap wine is an excellent accompaniment to grilled vegetables — Photo courtesy of Binny’s Beverage Depot and Harold Rail
Domaine J M Reverdy Charme de Loire Sauvignon Blanc 2022 is produced by the famous Jean-Marie Reverdy & Fils from the Loire Valley. This excellent sipper is a first-rate accompaniment for fresh or charred vegetables.
“This wine has perfectly balanced acidity, citrus fruit notes, well-ripened stone fruit, and a touch of tropical notes,” Kutryba says. “Fresh and vibrant, it would go well with white fish and grilled shrimp tacos, too.”
Chateau Maris Rare Orange Wine 2022
Orange wine is a fun complement to grilled salmon and hearty plant-based dishes and cookout food — Photo courtesy of Binny’s Beverage Depot and Harold Rail
Orange wine, known as skin-contact white or amber wine, complements various grilling options, such as spice-forward recipes, grilled salmon, and hearty plant-based entrees. Overall, these out-of-the-ordinary sips make many lists of the best cheap wines to drink right now.
Kutryba likes Chateau Maris Rare Orange Wine 2022, made from the muscat blanc à petits grains variety and hails from Minervois, Languedoc, and the South of France. “This wine bursts with freshness and makes you happy instantly,” she says. “The nose reminds of summer orchards, apricots, and yellow peaches.”
Chateau Miraval Studio by Miraval Rosé
A crisp rosé is a perfect partner with refreshing salads — Photo courtesy of Wildfire and Harold Rail
Excite your guests with the saga of the Chateau Miraval estate in France, where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were married, and iconic acts like The Cure and Pink Floyd cobbled some fine tunes at its famous recording studio. Then pour them a glass of the Studio by Miraval Rosé, the more budget-friendly bottle from the famous label, one of our favorite cheap wine picks. Wermager says it works well with a refreshing watermelon and feta cheese salad.
Vote Now: Best Wine Club (10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2024)
Tormaresca Calafuria Rosé 2023
An Italian rosé is perfect for grilled chicken and earthy salads — Photo courtesy of Binny’s Beverage Depot and Harold Rail
This highly expressive rosato from Puglia, Italy, features a creamy texture and rich fruit flavors of raspberry, peach, apricots, and white flowers. Kutryba says Tormaresca Calafuria Rosé 2023 enhances grilled chicken dishes or an earthy salad with roasted beets, oranges, goat cheese, and pine nuts.
Joel Gott California Pinot Noir 2021
Joel Gott California Pinot Noir is one of the best cheap wines with big flavors of bright red fruit and candied cherries — Photo courtesy of Briana Marie Photography
Wermager suggests Joel Gott California Pinot Noir 2021 to accompany healthy and lighter options. Its velvety tannins and bright red fruit notes are well-suited for grilled salmon and couscous dishes. For so much finesse at this price point, it tops many of the best cheap wine lists.
Vina Robles The Arborist 2021
This red blend from Paso Robles complements any barbecue, burgers, and steak — Photo courtesy of Binny’s Beverage Depot and Harold Rail
Connoisseurs champion Vina Robles The Arborist 2021 and its blend of syrah, petite sirah, grenache, and tannat for its impressive quality and price.
“The vineyard is located in the rolling hills of Paso Robles where the warm afternoon and cool evenings allow for an ideal ripeness,” Kutryba says. “This is a medium body wine with black cherry, plum, mocha, and savory spice notes that complements just about any barbecue but specifically burgers and flank steak.”
Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel
A fruity zinfandel enhances the flavor of slow-cooked barbecue pork and sausage — Photo courtesy of Cline Family Cellars
Wermager says zinfandels go deliciously with beef, Impossible Burgers, and crunchy onion rings, making them an excellent pick for budget-friendly wine to serve at a barbecue. Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel, made with grapes plucked from century-old dry-farmed vineyards, has phenomenally concentrated fruit flavors that will light up the flavor of slow-cooked barbecue pork.
Vote Now: Best Wine Region (10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2024)
J. Lohr Estates South Ridge Syrah 2019
J. Lohr’s syrah works well with baked beans and ribs — Photo courtesy of Wildfire and Harold Rail
According to Wermager, cookout classics like beef or pork ribs and baked beans beg for the inexpensive, ruby-colored J. Lohr Estates South Ridge Syrah 2019, which picks up the smokiness of the grill. It enhances any south-of-the-border dishes, too. Wine enthusiasts give this syrah “best buy” nods across the board.
Chateau de Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône 2022
Syrah is always a top contender for cheap wines for barbecues — Photo courtesy of Binny’s Beverage Depot and Harold Rail
This 100% syrah wine offers aromas of ripe plum, black currant, violets, and grilled herbs. Kutryba loves the nuances of subtle leather and a hint of pepper, making Chateau de Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône 2022 a perfect cheap wine pick for barbecue menus.
“The solid tannins, mineral, and graphite notes call for smoked meat, roasted mushrooms, and onions,” she adds. “And it’s great for Middle Eastern cuisine as well.”
